47 Sports FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015

Resilient Sunderland secure their EPL safety

LONDON: Sunderland produced a gutsy rearguard action to preserve their Premier League status with a tense 0-0 draw against Arsenal on Wednesday. Dick Advocaat’s side knew a point at the Emirates Stadium would be enough to guarantee their survival and they achieved that goal with an obdurate defensive display that kept Arsenal at bay despite a barrage of pressure from the hosts. Superbly marshaled by holding midfielder Lee Cattermole and cen- tral defenders Sebastian Coates and John O’Shea, Sunderland still needed a fine performance from goal- keeper Costel Pantilimon to emerge unscathed. The Black Cats, now four points clear of third bottom Hull, can start planning for next season instead of nervously facing a decisive trip to champions Chelsea in Sunday’s final round of fixtures. “Arsenal were the better side but our organisa- tion was unbelievably good. The emotion was so high,” said Advocaat, who left the pitch crying tears of joy at full-time. “It’s an unbelievable feeling that we did it by ourselves. The players gave every- thing to stay up.” Despite failing to win for the fourth time in their last five matches, Arsenal have likely done enough to secure a third place finish and automatic qualification for next season’s Champions League group stage. Arsene Wenger’s team are three points clear of fourth placed Manchester United with a significantly better goal differ- ence with only one match to play. Sunderland’s point means that the final relegation place from the Premier League will be filled by either Hull or Newcastle. Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere had an early chance to mark his return with a goal when he raced onto Alexis Sanchez’s pass, only to poke his shot tamely at Pantilimon. Wilshere had another sight of goal when Aaron Ramsey teed him up just inside the penalty area, yet once again the midfielder couldn’t find the required accuracy as he blazed high over the crossbar. Unsurprisingly Sunderland seemed intent solely on soaking up the pressure with a view to catching the Gunners on the break. But even when they did launch a rare counter the paucity of their attacking ambition was ROME: Juventus’ players celebrate at the end of the Italian Cup soccer final match between Lazio and Juventus at Rome’s Olympic stadium on Wednesday, May 20, 2015. — AP laid bare when Sunderland left-back Patrick van Aanholt sprinted 50 yards before looking up to discover not a sin- gle team-mate had made a supporting run. Juventus grab Italian Cup, eye treble Massed defense ROME: An extra-time winner by Massimiliano Allegri. “Now we just forcing Buffon to go down low to col- Wenger’s side almost conjured a breathtaking opener Alessandro Matri kept Juventus on have to keep our focus until June 6. lect. Chances were few in a far more when Wilshere floated a delicate chipped pass to Olivier track for the treble as the “We’ll go to Berlin having won the tense second half and Lazio striker Giroud, who waited for the ball to drop over his shoulder champions ended a 20-year wait for league and the cup, but Barcelona are Miroslav Klose was almost invisible before volleying narrowly past the far post. Jack Rodwell an Italian Cup final victory with a 2-1 in great form, just as we are.” Allegri before being replaced by Felip and Steven Fletcher came on for Sunderland at the interval win over Lazio on Wednesday. was missing midfielder Claudio Djordjevic seven minutes from time. and Advocaat’s changes almost paid immediate dividends. Juventus were stunned after just four Marchisio and striker Alvaro Morata Instead, Antonio Candreva and Adam Johnson slipped in Fletcher down the right channel minutes when Stefan Radu rose to through suspension, and was also Anderson were running the show for and the Sunderland striker’s snap-shot drew a good save beat Marco Storari with a powerful without number one goalkeeper the Biancocelesti, albeit with little from David Ospina. After a complete lack of activity in the header from a free-kick after Paul , whose absence was reward. Allegri replaced Pogba with first half, Arsenal goalkeeper Ospina was suddenly in the Pogba had given away a needless foul felt almost immediately when Storari Pereyra on 78 minutes and his fresh- thick of the action and he had to save with his feet after on the right flank. struggled to reach Radu’s powerful ness told immediately, the Argentine van Aanholt found space for a low drive. Juve got back on level terms header from a free-kick on the right. tracking back to dispossess Anderson Wenger’s side responded strongly as Giroud met Hector thanks to Giorgio Chiellini’s half-volley Yet Juventus, who beat Lazio 3-0 as the Brazilian held possession in a Bellerin’s cross with a flicked effort that Pantilimon clawed in the 10th minute. The match fin- and 2-0 in their Serie A encounters this dangerous three-on-three. away before Kieran Gibbs’ looping header drew another ished all square after 90 minutes but season, were soon back on level terms. Lazio spurned a great chance to acrobatic stop from the Sunderland keeper. Fletcher Matri, back on loan at Juve after being The fingers of blame had pointed at claim a late winner, however, when almost caught Arsenal off guard when he latched onto sold to in 2013, made the differ- Chiellini after Radu’s opener, but the Djordjevic made a complete mess of a Jermain Defoe’s pass and sprinted clear, however the Scot ence when he latched on to Carlos big Juve defender was in the right one-on-one with Storari. Matri, who Tevez’s lay-off inside the area to bun- place at the right time when Andrea replaced Llorente six minutes from couldn’t get enough height on his chip and Ospina was dle past in the Lazio net. Pirlo fired in a free-kick from 25 metres time, had the ball in the net moments able to save. Juve held on to their lead amid a out on 10 minutes. Pirlo’s curling deliv- after his arrival only for the goal to be Theo Walcott came on for his 300th Arsenal appearance tense second period of extra-time to ery was headed into the area by Pogba ruled offside. Lazio spurned another midway through the half, but his arrival was overshad- send the black and white half of the and Chiellini was left enough space to great chance to clinch the cup when owed by Fletcher wasting a glorious chance to put the visi- Stadio Olimpico into raptures as the connect and beat Berisha with a close- Djordjevic turned and fired a drive tors ahead when he sliced van Aanholt’s cross over from champions secured their first league range volley. Fernando Llorente fired a which beat Storari only to come off close-range with only Ospina to beat. Sunderland were and cup double since 1995. “It’s our header just over Berisha’s bar and after the near post and rebound across the straining every sinew to keep Arsenal at bay, with one bril- first cup trophy in 20 years, so it’s Pirlo saw a free-kick blocked and what goalmouth. But Matri, who has played liant block from Coates denying Sanchez, yet Billy Jones obviously special for us,” said Matri. followed displayed Lazio’s threat on for four different clubs since joining almost undermined their efforts when the defender Juve now just have to focus on the the counter. Juventus in 2011, made the most of deflected Ramsey’s cross onto his own woodwork. In a Champions League final against his opportunity. Tevez did well to con- nervous finale, substitute Tomas Rosicky dragged his shot Barcelona in Berlin on June 6 to com- Tense second half trol a long ball and drew two defend- wide and Pantilimon made a fine stop to deny Walcott’s plete their season and emulate the Brazilian Felipe Anderson carried ers before laying off for Matri to fire powerful strike before Sunderland’s ecstatic players and treble feats of , in 2010. “It the ball all the way through the Juve inside Berisha’s near post and send fans could finally celebrate.— AFP was a great final,” said Juve coach midfield to offload for Danilo Cataldi, the Curva Nord into raptures.—AFP